The last eighteen months have been pretty hectic for Mr Benedict Cumberbatch.

The British actor is currently playing one of television’s most intriguing characters and is also looking certain to land his first Oscar nomination for his role as Alan Turing in the drama The Imitation Game.

He has also been part of various high-profile films like Star Trek into Darkness and the award-winning 12 Years a Slave as well as voicing Smaug the Dragon in the final two Hobbit films.

He even went to the trouble of announcing that he was in a relationship with actress Sophie Hunter (much to the dismay of his female admirers!).

But the Sherlock star is now set for another significant role in the action-genre after Marvel Studios finally revealed that he had been cast as Doctor Strange in his own individual film.

Cumberbatch had initially denied reports that he was playing the character but that was clearly a diversion as Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige said in a statement:

“Stephen Strange’s story requires an actor capable of great depth and sincerity. In 2016, Benedict will show audiences what makes Doctor Strange such a unique and compelling character.”

The plot is likely to focus on how Strange went from being a neurosurgeon to a cosmic sorcerer.

Marvel had originally tried to get Joaquin Phoenix (Gladiator, Walk the Line) to play the Marvel hero but negotiations broke down in August.

Fellow British actors Tom Hardy, Colin Farrell and Ewan McGregor were also linked to the role.

Scott Derrickson (The Exorcism of Emily Rose, Deliver Us From Evil) will direct the film with a release date set for October 28th 2016.